Friday, February 16, 2018

If you are not receiving Friday Notes by email and would like to or if you would like to be removed from the Friday Notes email list, please email fridaynotes@lelandandgray.org Please also add fridaynotes@lelandandgray.org to your contact list so the mailing doesn't end up in your spam folder. Thank you.

SCHOOL INFO:

School Calendar:

Please make sure to check out the Leland & Gray school calendar. It differs from the District calendar because of professional development days for our faculty. The full calendar can be found here.

Course Offerings:

Please check out the 2018-2019 Program of Studies for the course offerings next school year. It can be found here.

L&G Food Shelf:

The Leland & Gray Food Shelf, an annex of the Townshend Community Food Shelf, is open to all of the L&G community during school hours. Please contact Sara Dunbar, the school nurse, at 221-2126 or sdunbar@lelandandgray.org or one of the school counselors or social worker to come shopping, drop ins are welcome. Students are invited and encouraged to shop for their families.If you have items you would like to donate, they can be delivered to the nurse's office at Leland & Gray. We appreciate your support of this program.Thank you to the contributions of The Stratton Foundation and The Townshend Community Food Shelf for helping to make this vision a reality.

Student Assistance Program:

Leland and Gray has a Student Assistance Program with services including prevention, screening and referral for issues with alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, early intervention, and referral for treatment. The Student Assistance Professional (SAP) can conduct confidential screenings and provide support and referrals for students demonstrating possible mental health or substance use concerns. Mandatory referrals are made when a student violates the Leland and Gray substance use policy or athletic code of conduct related to substances. Please contact Sarah Jensen at 802-221-2143 or sjensen@lelandandgray.org if you have any questions, concerns or would like services for your child.

Heart & Sole:

Want to be a part of something AMAZING?

Leland & Gray is gearing up for its 2nd year of the Middle School Girls on the Run program and is looking for COACHES!

If you believe that exercise is good for your heart, soul and mind & want to help make a difference in our students' lives....come join the team!!

Heart & Sole is Girls on the Run’s program for middle school girls! Heart & Sole creates a positive, structured space for middle school girls to learn about themselves, explore new ideas, cultivate empathy, strengthen connections and develop life skills that will help them as they move through adolescence and beyond.

The Heart & Sole curriculum is rich with themes girls can relate to, addressing the whole girl—body, brain, heart, spirit and social connection—and building important life skills such as team building, developing a support system, boundary setting, decision making, asking for and providing help and more.

LEAF'S Seed Fundraiser:

LEAF’S annual SEED FUNDRAISER has begun!

What: Vermont’s own High Mowing Seeds, in individual packs or box sets

When: February 8 - March 1st

Who: Members of LEAF

Why: To raise funds for garden supplies, metal and compostable utensils, to upgrade the outdoor compost bin, and to attend student conferences and workshops

Rebel on the Runway:

ATHLETICS:

Important Update:

L&G has moved to requiring a well exam (sports physical) every year starting 2017-2018. This requirement is for grades 7-12.All practices and games will be listed on our Events and Activities Calendar which is on the L&G website under Calendars.http://lelandandgray.org/index.php/co-curricular-calendar

Baseball & Softball Sign Ups:

Starting on Monday, students grade 7-12 will be able to sign up for baseball and/or softball during their lunch!Sign ups will last until Friday.

WEST RIVER VALLEY THRIVES:

Many parents believe that by giving their teenage children alcohol at home they help teach them to drink responsibly and prevent drinking problems in the future. Although common and well-meaning, a new scientific study published in The Lancet found that this approach does nothing to protect or benefit children and may actually be harmful.This six-year longitudinal study of 1927 teenagers (ages 12-18) and their parents concluded that providing alcohol to teenagers at home had no protective effects or benefits when compared to teenagers that did not receive alcohol at home. In fact, teens that were given alcohol by their parents one year were twice as likely to obtain alcohol from other sources the following year compared to those who were not given alcohol by their parents. Binge drinking was also reported at higher rates from teens who were provided alcohol by their parents than from teens who were not.“Providing alcohol to children is associated with alcohol-related harms. There is no evidence to support the view that parental supply protects from adverse drinking outcomes by providing alcohol to their child. Parents should be advised that this practice is associated with risk, both directly and indirectly through increased access to alcohol from other sources.” (Mattick et al, 2018)

Monthly Parent Meet Up:

West River Valley Thrives hosted a very informative parent dialogue to discuss the concern of increasing teen access and use of vapes/e-cigarettes. There was an introduction to current devices used by teens, presentation of research and risks of electronic cigarettes, and discussion of the importance of communication between parents in the community.

We are looking to start a monthly parent meet-up to continue conversations about vaping, smoking, alcohol, and other drugs in our community.

Any interested parents can contact the Director (Steve Tavella) at wrvtdirector@gmail.com, Coordinator (Nick Plante) at wrvthrives@gmail.com, call our office at 365-4700, or stop into our office at A13 during the school day to talk.

All are welcome!

HEY HELP:

CHANGE AHEAD FOR SEEK AND HEY

To the students and families of Leland and Gray,

For the last 7 years, L&G has had federal funding for the SEEK program and for the HEY afterschool programs such as HEY Help, Jr Iron Chef and the Dungeons & Dragons club. We also have had amazing staff who helped design SEEK and HEY and put all their good ideas and energy into our programs. Many, many thanks to the teachers and staff for all their dedication.

Unfortunately, we are not going to have the federal funds next year. The requirements for us to participate in the federal investment program include a set of targets for the summer and afterschool activities. A number of factors have come together at Leland and Gray so that we can no longer meet those requirements.

Leland and Gray will continue to develop programs, in and out of school, that truly meet the needs of students. Although there will be no federal funds for SEEK or HEY next year, there are efforts and some local funds to continue to support the following four areas:

The late bus connection to homes and the local elementary schools.

The middle school summer program. (SPAE and Sports Camp are not funded through the same programs and will run as usual.)

The Elementary Counselor Program, which shall continue through federal funds from the elementary schools.

Student-led clubs that provide a positive space after school to hang out with peers working on projects of their own interest.

3 Generation Collaboration Community Service Opportunities:

New community service opportunities with 3 Generations Collaboration are always being posted at www.team3gc.org

Also, visit the link to learn about Build Your Own Service.Tech Help is now on MondaysTech Help, a community service activity during the afterschool period, MOVES TO MONDAYS starting in January. Students may participate by doing show-and-tell about a device or an app they use, or by helping 3GC leaders answer tech questions from the public. Other types of service, such as data entry or outreach, are available for teens with different interests. Students who wish to help are needed at the Townshend Library from 2:45 to 4:15. The public is invited to come for help from 3-4 PM. Questions may be directed to Janis at 3 Generations Collaboration, 802-428-4333, team3gc@gmail.com

Video Contests:

Kids, see these two video contests! Freedom & Unity Youth Film Contest: for Vermont filmmakers age 10-26. Deadline: 4/21/18. Cash prizes. Enter at www.freedomandunitytv.org100-Seconds Film & Video Festival: Deadline: 9/1/18. Entries will be compiled to premiere on Community Media Day on October 20. Enter at www.100-seconds.org

Thrifty Rebel:

Friday, February 9, 2018

If you are not receiving Friday Notes by email and would like to or if you would like to be removed from the Friday Notes email list, please email fridaynotes@lelandandgray.org Please also add fridaynotes@lelandandgray.org to your contact list so the mailing doesn't end up in your spam folder. Thank you.

SCHOOL INFO:

School Calendar:

Please make sure to check out the Leland & Gray school calendar. It differs from the District calendar because of professional development days for our faculty. The full calendar can be found here.

L&G Food Shelf:

The Leland & Gray Food Shelf, an annex of the Townshend Community Food Shelf, is up and running. It is open to all of the L&G community during school hours. Please contact Sara Dunbar, the school nurse, at 221-2126 or sdunbar@lelandandgray.org or one of the school counselors or social worker to come shopping, drop ins are welcome. Students are invited and encouraged to shop for their families.If you have items you would like to donate, they can be delivered to the nurse's office at Leland & Gray. We appreciate your support of this program.Thank you to the contributions of The Stratton Foundation and The Townshend Community Food Shelf for helping to make this vision a reality.

Student Assistance Program:

Leland and Gray has a Student Assistance Program with services including prevention, screening and referral for issues with alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, early intervention, and referral for treatment. The Student Assistance Professional (SAP) can conduct confidential screenings and provide support and referrals for students demonstrating possible mental health or substance use concerns. Mandatory referrals are made when a student violates the Leland and Gray substance use policy or athletic code of conduct related to substances. Please contact Sarah Jensen at 802-221-2143 or sjensen@lelandandgray.org if you have any questions, concerns or would like services for your child.

Heart & Sole:

Want to be a part of something AMAZING?

Leland & Gray is gearing up for its 2nd year of the Middle School Girls on the Run program and is looking for COACHES!

If you believe that exercise is good for your heart, soul and mind & want to help make a difference in our students' lives....come join the team!!

Heart & Sole is Girls on the Run’s program for middle school girls! Heart & Sole creates a positive, structured space for middle school girls to learn about themselves, explore new ideas, cultivate empathy, strengthen connections and develop life skills that will help them as they move through adolescence and beyond.

The Heart & Sole curriculum is rich with themes girls can relate to, addressing the whole girl—body, brain, heart, spirit and social connection—and building important life skills such as team building, developing a support system, boundary setting, decision making, asking for and providing help and more.

Love is in the Air:

Valentine's Day is coming! Why not buy your friends and sweethearts beautiful carnations from the National Honor Society? Flowers are $3 ea. or $5 for two. See a NHS member at HS or MS lunch.

ATHLETICS:

Important Update:

L&G has moved to requiring a well exam (sports physical) every year starting 2017-2018. This requirement is for grades 7-12.All practices and games will be listed on our Events and Activities Calendar which is on the L&G website under Calendars.http://lelandandgray.org/index.php/co-curricular-calendar

Baseball & Softball Sign ups:

Starting on Monday, students grade 7-12 will be able to sign up for baseball and/or softball during their lunch!Sign ups will last until Friday.

WEST RIVER VALLEY THRIVES:

Many parents believe that by giving their teenage children alcohol at home they help teach them to drink responsibly and prevent drinking problems in the future. Although common and well-meaning, a new scientific study published in The Lancet found that this approach does nothing to protect or benefit children and may actually be harmful.This six-year longitudinal study of 1927 teenagers (ages 12-18) and their parents concluded that providing alcohol to teenagers at home had no protective effects or benefits when compared to teenagers that did not receive alcohol at home. In fact, teens that were given alcohol by their parents one year were twice as likely to obtain alcohol from other sources the following year compared to those who were not given alcohol by their parents. Binge drinking was also reported at higher rates from teens who were provided alcohol by their parents than from teens who were not.“Providing alcohol to children is associated with alcohol-related harms. There is no evidence to support the view that parental supply protects from adverse drinking outcomes by providing alcohol to their child. Parents should be advised that this practice is associated with risk, both directly and indirectly through increased access to alcohol from other sources.” (Mattick et al, 2018)

Do you let your teens drink at home to protect them?:

A new study of 1,927 teenagers indicates that this approach does not have any protective effects or benefits. Allowing your underaged children to drink at home may actually be backfiring as parental provision of alcohol was found to be associated with increased likelihood that those teens will drink outside of the home as well.
To learn more, follow the link below:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180125161255.htm

Monthly Parent Meet Up:

This past Wednesday West River Valley Thrives hosted a very informative parent dialogue to discuss the concern of increasing teen access and use of vapes/e-cigarettes. There was an introduction to current devices used by teens, presentation of research and risks of electronic cigarettes, and discussion of the importance of communication between parents in the community.

We are looking to start a monthly parent meet-up to continue conversations about vaping, smoking, alcohol, and other drugs in our community.

Any interested parents can contact the Director (Steve Tavella) at wrvtdirector@gmail.com, Coordinator (Nick Plante) at wrvthrives@gmail.com, call our office at 365-4700, or stop into our office at A13 during the school day to talk.

3 Generation Collaboration Community Service Opportunities:

New community service opportunities with 3 Generations Collaboration are always being posted at www.team3gc.org

Also, visit the link to learn about Build Your Own Service.Tech Help is now on MondaysTech Help, a community service activity during the afterschool period, MOVES TO MONDAYS starting in January. Students may participate by doing show-and-tell about a device or an app they use, or by helping 3GC leaders answer tech questions from the public. Other types of service, such as data entry or outreach, are available for teens with different interests. Students who wish to help are needed at the Townshend Library from 2:45 to 4:15. The public is invited to come for help from 3-4 PM. Questions may be directed to Janis at 3 Generations Collaboration, 802-428-4333, team3gc@gmail.com

Video Contests:

Kids, see these two video contests! Freedom & Unity Youth Film Contest: for Vermont filmmakers age 10-26. Deadline: 4/21/18. Cash prizes. Enter at www.freedomandunitytv.org100-Seconds Film & Video Festival: Deadline: 9/1/18. Entries will be compiled to premiere on Community Media Day on October 20. Enter at www.100-seconds.org

Thrifty Rebel:

Friday, February 2, 2018

If you are not receiving Friday Notes by email and would like to or if you would like to be removed from the Friday Notes email list, please email fridaynotes@lelandandgray.org Please also add fridaynotes@lelandandgray.org to your contact list so the mailing doesn't end up in your spam folder. Thank you.

SCHOOL INFO:

School Calendar:

Please make sure to check out the Leland & Gray school calendar. It differs from the District calendar because of professional development days for our faculty. The full calendar can be found here.

L&G Food Shelf:

The Leland & Gray Food Shelf, an annex of the Townshend Community Food Shelf, is up and running. It is open to all of the L&G community during school hours. Please contact Sara Dunbar, the school nurse, at 221-2126 or sdunbar@lelandandgray.org or one of the school counselors or social worker to come shopping, drop ins are welcome. Students are invited and encouraged to shop for their families.If you have items you would like to donate, they can be delivered to the nurse's office at Leland & Gray. We appreciate your support of this program.Thank you to the contributions of The Stratton Foundation and The Townshend Community Food Shelf for helping to make this vision a reality.

Annual Report:

Refuse to Use:

Mandatory MeetingGrade 9 & 10 Tuesday, Feb 6 @ 3 PM in room B-5

Student Assistance Program:

Leland and Gray has a Student Assistance Program with services including prevention, screening and referral for issues with alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, early intervention, and referral for treatment. The Student Assistance Professional (SAP) can conduct confidential screenings and provide support and referrals for students demonstrating possible mental health or substance use concerns. Mandatory referrals are made when a student violates the Leland and Gray substance use policy or athletic code of conduct related to substances. Please contact Sarah Jensen at 802-221-2143 or sjensen@lelandandgray.org if you have any questions, concerns or would like services for your child.

Heart & Sole:

Want to be a part of something AMAZING?

Leland & Gray is gearing up for its 2nd year of the Middle School Girls on the Run program and is looking for COACHES!

If you believe that exercise is good for your heart, soul and mind & want to help make a difference in our students' lives....come join the team!!

Heart & Sole is Girls on the Run’s program for middle school girls! Heart & Sole creates a positive, structured space for middle school girls to learn about themselves, explore new ideas, cultivate empathy, strengthen connections and develop life skills that will help them as they move through adolescence and beyond.

The Heart & Sole curriculum is rich with themes girls can relate to, addressing the whole girl—body, brain, heart, spirit and social connection—and building important life skills such as team building, developing a support system, boundary setting, decision making, asking for and providing help and more.

ATHLETICS:

Important Update:

L&G has moved to requiring a well exam (sports physical) every year starting 2017-2018. This requirement is for grades 7-12.All practices and games will be listed on our Events and Activities Calendar which is on the L&G website under Calendars.http://lelandandgray.org/index.php/co-curricular-calendar

WEST RIVER VALLEY THRIVES:

West River Valley Thrives- a substance abuse prevention organization based in Townshend, VT- is pleased to announce the hiring of their new Director, Steve Tavella, and Project Coordinator, Nick Plante.

As director, Steve is primarily responsible for oversight of the coalition, grant writing and grants management, and program development. Steve has a Bachelors degree in Sociology/Anthropology from Gettysburg College, and a Masters in International Administration from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT. Steve has been a resident of the West River Valley for over 32 years, raising his daughter in Brattleboro. He has worked, lived, and traveled in over 50 countries and 6 continents, including longer-term stints in Afghanistan, Rakhine State Myanmar, The Republic of Georgia, Egypt, Kiribati, and the Solomon Islands, working with displaced persons, communities in distress, and youth. Steve feels it is imperative to find positive influences in our young people’s lives and to create healthy lifestyles. “We must better understand substance abuse issues in our communities, and educate and support our younger generations to live healthy, substance-free lives.” Steve is currently a resident of Dummerston, VT.

As coordinator, Nick oversees the majority of the organization’s youth programming, including the Leland & Gray Above the Influence (ATI) group, which supports West River’s mission to engage youth in developing healthy lifestyles, and educating them to the risks of substance use. Nick holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Clarion University and is a member of the Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology. He has co-authored several academic papers on self-esteem, anxiety, well-being and stress, and proxemics. Having previously worked in treatment as a Mental Health Worker at Clarion Psychiatric Center and Brattleboro Retreat, he is excited to be a part of a community effort to prevent substance abuse and encourage healthy living. Nick is currently a resident of Brattleboro, VT.

West River Valley Thrives’ mission is to support and promote healthy lifestyle choices with an emphasis on the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by young people. For more information, questions, or volunteer opportunities, contact Steve at wrvtdirector@gmail.com, Nick at wrvthrives@gmail.com, or call 802-365-4700. WRVT is located at the Leland & Gray Union Middle and High School.

3 Generation Collaboration Community Service Opportunities:

New community service opportunities with 3 Generations Collaboration are always being posted at www.team3gc.org

Also, visit the link to learn about Build Your Own Service.Tech Help is now on MondaysTech Help, a community service activity during the afterschool period, MOVES TO MONDAYS starting in January. Students may participate by doing show-and-tell about a device or an app they use, or by helping 3GC leaders answer tech questions from the public. Other types of service, such as data entry or outreach, are available for teens with different interests. Students who wish to help are needed at the Townshend Library from 2:45 to 4:15. The public is invited to come for help from 3-4 PM. Questions may be directed to Janis at 3 Generations Collaboration, 802-428-4333, team3gc@gmail.com